Consultancy: Development of local community-based Disaster Risk Reduction in Jordan

BACKGROUND

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) holds scientific and intellectual leaderships in the field of natural hazards management and the risk reduction through its multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral initiatives; international scientific collaboration and its Academic Networks, Chairs and Programmes. The Organization operates at the interface between natural and social sciences, education, culture and communication to foster socio-economic and ecological resilience in areas prone to natural hazard. UNESCO assists counties in building and strengthening capacities in risks prevention.  It plays a vital role in supporting Member States in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) 2015-2030), in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement.

The Sendai Framework for DRR aim is to achieve the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses in lives, livelihoods and health of people. The Framework addresses the mitigation of risks to reduce drop in the economic, physical, social, cultural and environmental assets of persons, businesses, communities and countries.  It also addresses the institutional measures that prevent hazards and vulnerability to disasters.

The project entitled ‘Urgent Interventions to strengthen the Socio-Ecological System Resilience in MENA Region’ funded by the Government of Japan, is designed to provide instruments and tools to strengthen ecological resilience and boost the readiness of communities in addressing and managing natural hazards in risks prone areas.  The project is implemented in Egypt and Jordan, in close coordination with UNESCO Amman Office. The project’s position is located in the Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo, Egypt.

ASSIGNMENT

Within the framework of the Ecology and Earth Sciences Programme of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab States in Cairo (UCO), under the overall supervision of the Director of UCO and the direct supervision of the Programme Specialist for Ecology and Earth Sciences at UCO, the consultant shall develop a Local Community-based DRR (LCB-DRR) Strategy ready for implementation at three (3) sites with high exposure to natural hazards in Jordan.

To this end, the consultant shall undertake the following tasks:

• Perform a desk review of documents related to the Sendai Framework (i.e. regional and national policies instruments and reports, and Sendai Framework decisions taken/Joint declarations).
• Assist in establishing the criteria for the selected sites and in the subsequent selection process.   
  • The criteria shall be inclusive to ensure the best sites selection that take into consideration all relevant factors for establishing DRR  effective strategy for a site including (and not limited to): land use, multi-hazards, prevailing socioeconomic structures, geophysical conditions, that shall be targeted by the project.
  • Assist in the design and organization of 1 national dialogue meeting aiming to select the 3 sites in Jordan. The selection of the sites shall be based on communication with DRR National Competent Authorities and in close cooperation with Sendai Framework focal points in Jordan. It shall account for natural hazards history and geophysical characteristic of the proposed sites, the frequency and intensity of natural hazards including biological hazards, and the spectrum of the vulnerability of fragile settings and communities.

• Local Capacity Assessment (LCA)
  • Perform a desk review of documents on natural hazards and climate change to draw Jordan’s profile on local capacities on Disaster Risk Reduction and define additional information needed to complete the country’s profile;
  • Design the methodologies of work for local capacity assessment and stakeholders mapping,  survey forms and questionnaires as deemed necessary;
  • Draw the landscape of Natural Hazards occurring in the selected sites in Jordan over a defined period of time and perform an assessment of their impacts on ecosystems, society and economy;
  • Identify key national and local stakeholders, perform stakeholders mapping, and assess local institutional, thematic and individual capacities in natural hazards risk reduction and management including pandemics/COVID19;
  • Draw local capacities interlinkages to national capacities in addressing natural hazards including pandemics/COVID19;
  • Assess capacity building needs to reduce the risks pre-, during (responses) and post-NH (recovery) and define prevailing challenges to determine the scope of community involvement and roles in the selected sites;
  • Assist in the performance of participatory appraisals and consultation meetings (1 to 2 consultation meeting/site) as deemed necessary to assess the needs in capacity development;
  • Identify the challenges encountered in the 3 targeted sites during the more recent natural hazard events including the pandemic/COVID19.

• Local Community-Based DRR Strategy (LCB-DRR Strategy)
  • Assist in the organization of necessary meetings (1 to 2 per site) with all relevant government agencies, national and local stakeholders and community members to draw the general framework of LCB-DRR strategy including biological risks and applying the precautionary principles in pre-, during and post- Natural Hazards event;
  • Develop LCB-DRR Strategy including mitigation measures, guidelines, and good practices for pre, during and post-natural hazards events including COVID 19;
  • Develop an action plan for the implementation of the LCB-DRR strategy;
  • Assist in the organization of local meeting (1 meeting per site) to popularize the LCB-DRR strategies in the 3 selected sites in Jordan and present the findings and the LCB-DRR Strategy for relevant agencies at national and local levels;
  • Gather lessons learned from previous natural hazards events including COVID 19;
  • Provide necessary information from the LCA and LCB-DRR strategy for the design and development of one-pager and infographic as awareness material to be distributed to the audience.

COORDINATION/CONSULTATION

• Regular contact, on weekly basis with EES Programme Specialist  and the project team at UCO on the advancement of the assignment and copy the PS, the project’s assistant and coordinator on all correspondence made for the purpose of this assignment;
• Assist in the communication and coordination with representatives of Member States as well as UNESCO National Commissions, and relevant institutions and community members for the provision of the material and information needed to perform the above assignment;
• Address the feedback provided by the Project team, the project’s evaluator and other group affiliated with the project in a timely manner on both deliverables, the LCA document and the LCB-DRR strategy documents;
• Coordinate with UNESCO Project’s team to ensure effective implementation and management of the consultancy assignment activities;
• Perform other tasks as needed for this consultancy assignment.

DELIVERABLES

• Inception report including: [1] methodologies of work and material (survey form, questionnaires, etc.) for local capacity assessment, stakeholders mapping and socio-economic profile and economic value of the natural hazards impacts including COVID19, [2] approaches and material used to identify the sites, [3] Jordan’s profile and list of additional information needed to complete country’s profile.
• Local Capacity Assessment report of the 3 selected sites in Jordan, including: Site’s profile (ecological, social and economic), natural hazards occurring including biological hazards (COVID19), and stakeholders maps; and outcomes of the desk review of documents related to the Sendai Framework .
• LCB-DRR Strategy including mitigation, recovery and response measures, guidelines, and practices for pre-, during and post-natural hazards including biological hazards (COVID19) events.
• Detailed plan to popularize the LCB-DRR strategies in the 3 selected sites in Jordan.
• Information ready for use in the awareness material including one-pager, brochure and infographic.
• Report summarizing the outcomes of the awareness-raising activities and lessons learned from the consultancy assignment.

TIMETABLE

The consultant shall submit the deliverables by the following dates:

1. Inception report including work plan and timeline: June 30, 2020
2. Local Capacity Assessment portfolio of the 3 selected sites: Sept. 31, 2020
3. LCB-DRR Strategy of the 3 sites: Jan. 15, 2021
4. Detailed plan to popularize the LCB-DRR strategies in the 3 selected sites in Jordan :Jan. 15, 2021
5. Information awareness material (one-pager, brochure and infographics): Jan. 15, 2021
6. Report summarizing the outcomes of the awareness-raising activities and lessons learned from the consultancy assignment: Feb. 05, 2021

COMPETENCIES (Core / Managerial)
Accountability (C)
Communication (C)
Innovation (C)
Knowledge sharing and continuous improvement (C)
Planning and organizing (C)
Results focus (C)
Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education

University degree (preferably at the Masters or PhD level or equivalent) in management of multi-hazards and disaster risk reduction, environmental science, ecosystem management, and socio-ecological systems and infrastructure resilience, or in other fields closely related to the focus of the consultancy assignment.

Work Experience

Three to six years of relevant professional experience focused on one or more of the areas cited below:

Natural Hazards/geohazards,
Environmental science and management,
Climate change and adaptation mechanisms,
Ecosystem resilience and social preparedness.

Languages

Fluency (oral and written) in both English and Arabic is required. 

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Professional knowledge about, and direct experience in, Natural Hazards Risk Assessment, Disaster Risk Reduction, climate adaptation and Ecosystem-based Adaptation and ecosystem-based management and Nature-Based Solutions, ideally on multi-hazards;
• Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Excellent written and oral communication skills;
• Excellent networking, partnership building and interpersonal skills;
• Good computer and other IT skills including social media;
• Proven ability to work in a multicultural environment and as part of a team.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application and provide complete and accurate information. To apply, please visit the UNESCO careers website. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the vacancy notice and may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. 

UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference, e-mail correspondence, etc. for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

Please note that only selected candidates will be further contacted and candidates in the final selection step will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates are invited to submit additional documents including their CV and financial proposal in the Employment History. 

UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.

UNESCO is committed to achieve and sustain gender parity among its staff members in all categories and at all grades. Furthermore, UNESCO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities, as well as nationals from non-and under-represented Member States are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality. Worldwide mobility is required for staff members appointed to international posts.

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.